SOCIAL SERVICE

“Go and See” Mercy Ministry was founded in 1992. It was a period in Armenia, when Communist regime had already been collapsed, and a new independent Republic of Armenia was forming; the Nagorno-Karabakh war was fought, and because of it, Armenia was blockaded. All the factories were closed; as there was no electricity, the whole country was in darkness.

Yerevan and the adjacent regions were overpopulated with Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, and with those who suffered the 1988 Earthquake in Spitak (because of the 1988 Armenian Earthquake, thousands of people died, 3 cities and many villages were totally destroyed). Hunger and unemployment were rampant, and queues for bread around the clock were commonplace.

In order to found this ministry and to lay its further course, we needed supernatural mentality, as in contrast to other charitable organizations in Armenia, which received support from abroad, funding of this ministry had to be raised by donations of a group of Armenians abandoned to blockade and hunger.

‘Go and See’ Mercy Ministry was founded in 1992.

It was a period in Armenia, when Communist regime had already been collapsed, and a new independent Republic of Armenia was forming; the Nagorno-Karabakh war was fought, and because of it, Armenia was blockaded. All the factories were closed; as there was no electricity, the whole country was in darkness.

Yerevan and the adjacent regions were overpopulated with Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, and with those who suffered the 1988 Earthquake in Spitak (because of the 1988 Armenian Earthquake, thousands of people died, 3 cities and many villages were totally destroyed). Hunger and unemployment were rampant, and queues for bread around the clock were commonplace.

“How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” (Mark 6:30-44)

I n order to found this ministry and to lay its further course, we needed supernatural mentality, as in contrast to other charitable organizations in Armenia, which received support from abroad, funding of this ministry had to be raised by donations of a group of Armenians abandoned to blockade and hunger.

That is why, from the very first day of its foundation, the Ministry put its hope on the Word of God. The Pastor of the Church preached from Mark 6:30-44, about Jesus feeding more than 5.000 in desert.

“When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread;[e] for they have nothing to eat.” But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”

But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.’” (Mark 6:35-38)

Pastor’s sermon taught people to trust God. They needed not to look to far countries, but to offer even the little they had, believing that God would perform a miracle, that He would multiply what they had, and not only they, but also many others would be supplied.

The next day, the same way the disciples returned with 5 loaves and 2 fish (which was given by a young boy from the crowd), the Church members each brought whatever they had: one kilogram of sugar, half kilogram of rice, some clothes, etc. However, the most astounding sacrifice was made on the first day – a Matnakash bread; it was the most valuable thing to sacrifice then, as bread could be purchased only with coupons, and people even had to stand in queues around the clock to buy it. The offerings were distributed to people who suffered from the war and from the Earthquake. The givers were Armenian people who attended the Church, and lived in lack as well.

God appreciated offerings of the Church members, and blessed them so much, that they were able to support a number of programs carried out by the Mercy Ministry Team. The Mercy Ministry Team is composed of volunteers who realize large-scale activities in orphanages, homes for the elderly, hospitals and elsewhere.

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THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE MINISTRY

To support the Government by carrying out mutual programs aimed at improvement of the nation’s social conditions.

To study the reason of poverty and the roots of the reason, and after eliminating the roots, to eliminate the consequences as well. ‘Not only to take people out of their hut, but to take the hut out of the people, and ‘Not only to give people fish to eat, but to teach them to catch fish’.

To study the social conditions of the needy and to work out proper social plans aimed at improvement of those conditions.